"I heard you got into a fight and ended up in the hospital. I thought you wouldn’t make it. Is the injury serious?"
The voice was neither loud nor soft, words clear as day.
It seed like a caring inquiry, but it deftly revealed the reason for Oliver Scott’s injury.
—Hospitalized due to a fight.
That’s not a reason one would associate with Oliver Scott.
Here, both teachers and students, anyone who has ever paid attention to the city rankings, knows the na Oliver Scott. The impression everyone has of Oliver is "excellent both academically and personally," "multitalented," "top scholar," a mountain that can’t be crossed in most students’ minds.
A student like that, how could he be involved in "fighting"?
"Did he really get into a fight?"
"Couldn’t tell at all."
"Getting hospitalized after a fight, that’s too weak."
"Wow, at least not all-around talented."
...
Small murmurs spread instantly.
Even the Affiliated Middle School teachers, including Glenn Flynn, their faces dropped, expressions turning black.
F*ck.
This gentlemanly-looking thing, must be here to stir trouble, right?
"It’s not serious." Oliver Scott’s expression was indifferent, no hint of a smile on his face, "After all, it’ll be better in just one or two months."
Whether this was true or not was unclear.
—As a student, soon to be a senior, every second counts. One or two months—is that sothing that can be delayed? Can it be considered "not serious"?
Marshall Ferreira’s expression was sowhat subtle.
Faintly, one could sense Oliver had pushed the "beaten" bla onto him.
Did he discover sothing?
Or perhaps, just anger directed at the wrong person?
Squinting slightly, Oliver’s gaze coolly fixed on Marshall, the breeze ruffling his bangs, creating slight movent, shadows ebb and flow, with obscure emotions in his dark, serene eyes.
His voice was lowered by a few degrees, "It’s been quite unsafe lately. You better watch out, you might get beaten while walking On the Road."
"..."
Marshall was stunned.
Used to Oliver’s gentle or playful image, he didn’t expect this strong side of him, Marcus Shaw and Nora Scott exchanged a glance involuntarily.
However, another competition group from the Affiliated Middle School saw Oliver like this, calm and composed, as expected.
Oliver Scott is easy-going and friendly. However, his gentleness doesn’t an weakness; no one dares to tread on him.
They usually call him "Oliver" for good reason.
Marshall lingered for a few seconds, sensing a slight sharpness from Oliver, plus since his purpose had been achieved, he didn’t clash head-on with Oliver, uttered a few formal pleasantries, and prepared to leave.
However, at the mont he turned, a gust of wind ca, suddenly lifting Oliver’s school uniform hem, flipping the right side of the collar outward, revealing a suspended right hand, with childishly funny doodles on the bandage, fleetingly.
Marshall squinted a bit.
Then, lowered his gaze and left.
Nora Scott stuck a hand in her pocket, glanced at Marshall’s retreating figure, and gently furrowed her brow.
*
At nine o’clock sharp, the eight teams entered the arena.
Unlike the first preliminary round, the audience had doubled, mostly students, with representatives from various schools cheering, and a batch of cha enthusiasts and parents, the reporters present clearly more professional and high-class, with several recognizable dia outlets.
The scene was much more spectacular.
The host made it very formal, with a team and cha introduction process.
Just like last ti, Nora headed straight to the audience section, but didn’t dare to sit absently or stand anywhere but rather chose a corner spot, keeping her baseball cap pulled low, and watched the entire match discreetly.
She didn’t pay much attention during the introduction segnt, resting her chin on her hand, playing a farm ga on her phone, until the introduction of the First Affiliated High School’s participants, then she finally lifted her eyelids.
First Affiliated High School had two teams; Marcus and Oliver appeared later, two handso and eye-pleasing boys, undoubtedly causing a stir in the audience.
Even girls from non-First Affiliated High School couldn’t help but cheer for them.
"So handso so handso! These two fit my aesthetic perfectly!"
"All the quality handso guys are from other schools."
"I know Oliver Scott, but who’s the one with him? So cool and aloof, I adore this type."
"Is it my illusion, why do I feel they look so well-suited together?"
"Don’t say it, the mont you ntion it, I’m shipping."
"Oliver Scott is a true male god; sunny, handso, excellent grades, multitalented. But, what happened to his hand?"
...
Listening to the excited chatter from the girls in front, Nora’s lips subtly curled upward.
She opened WeChat, found the group chat with Oliver and Marcus, then recorded a 59-second voice ssage and sent it to the group.
Afterwards, she recorded a short clip and sent it to Pedro Langley.
Pedro replied instantly.
[Pedro Langley]: You’ve finally decided to advance from pics to voice ssages, comndable progress.
Nora Scott: "..."
You always bring up the wrong topics.
This guy’s hopeless.
After a mont, Pedro Langley sends another ssage.
[Pedro Langley]: I’m not quite getting it. Are you trying to match Marcus Shaw with Oliver Scott?
???
Nora Scott is bewildered.
She puts on her Bluetooth headset and suspiciously plays the voice ssage.
"Ahahaha, that guy’s Marcus Shaw! I heard this from a classmate at the Affiliated Middle School, Marcus is a total cheat code. At last year’s final exams, he rose from a middling position to the top thirty. During the last midterms, he even beat Oliver Scott, taking first place in the whole school. There’s also a rumor that they’re brothers from different parents! They’re inseparable all day long!"
"Isn’t this brotherly bond so shippable?"
"I’m totally sold."
"What are you guys talking about? Now, whenever I see them make eye contact, it looks so tender, it’s killing ."
...
Amid all the praises, there’s such a conversation.
Nora Scott: "..."
She wants to withdraw the ssage, but two minutes have passed, and it’s too late. She wants to record a new one, but just then, the host begins to introduce the team from Third Middle School.
Third Middle School also has two teams, and the first one is led by Marshall Ferreira and Harlen Johnson.
Upon hearing this, Nora Scott stops her recording motion, slightly lifts her eyes, and looks towards the scene.
Marcus Shaw and Oliver Scott step off the stage, and Marshall Ferreira, Harlen Johnson, and the rest of their team co up, the two groups eting head-on.
Nora Scott initially glances casually, and coincidentally sees Marshall Ferreira brushing past Oliver Scott. He leans closer to Oliver, seemingly nodding amiably, but his slightly extended elbow sweeps toward Oliver’s jacket casually draped over his shoulder.
The jacket is just draped casually, and a re touch would make it fall, however, in that instant—
Oliver Scott slightly sidesteps, and in the mont the jacket leaves his shoulder, he swiftly grabs the collar of his uniform, lifting it slightly, then casually throws it over his left shoulder.
While preventing his uniform from hitting the ground, he also boldly reveals the graffiti on his right elbow.
Fearless and unafraid.
He slightly turns his head, and when his gaze sweeps over Marshall Ferreira, it carries a hint of provocation.
The untad spirit of youth, unabashed.
Tall and upright, his silhouette is slender and his handso features exude a subtle, understated arrogance that’s quite striking.
And—
This action undoubtedly elicits cheers and screams from the girls present.
"Ahhhh so handso!"
"Mom, I want to marry him!"
"My dear daughter, study hard, we’ll get into the sa university as him, close at hand."
"What’s with that graffiti, hahaha, it’s so amusing and adorable."
"Full of childlike wonder! Anyone who slanders him as a troublemaker, I’ll get mad at them! Such a cute guy surely wouldn’t start fights for no reason!"
"Today’s heartthrob is both handso and cute! I’m in love!"
...
Nora Scott quickly presses the voice button, recording a long segnt of cheers to send to Pedro Langley.
Pedro Langley: "..."
His girlfriend is starting to show off her brother, feeling like his charm is plumting.
*
The teams are introduced one by one.
Before the actual competition starts, each team is given so preparation ti.
Nora Scott quietly observes until she sees a certain figure leaving the scene, heading in the direction of the restrooms, and her eyes suddenly flash. She pulls down her hat’s brim and stands up.
...
Restroom.
The restroom is shared with the audience, not for exclusive use by the contestants.
The competition is about to start, so there aren’t many people.
Water splashes on his face, and Marshall Ferreira slightly tilts his head back, looking at himself in the mirror, his eyes cold and fierce, his expression apathetic and nacing.
The usual courteous and polite image is now utterly gone.
Marshall Ferreira exhales a breath.
Oliver Scott...
Footsteps sound behind him, and there’s a flicker in Marshall Ferreira’s eyes. He imdiately wipes away the cold expression, reverting to his usual composed and refined deanor.
He washes his hands, uses a towel to dry them, and throws the trash into the bin before leaving silently.
On the way back, he ntally calculates the strength of his competition and the strategies to address them.
Inadvertently—
A foot suddenly stretches out in front of him. Caught off guard, he stumbles and nearly falls flat on his face.
His heart leaps in shock.
Marshall Ferreira narrowly steadies himself without showing any panic or anger, straightens up, and with a now slightly cooler and more refined deanor, looks towards the person standing against the wall.
Slightly stunned.
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